Nil gets outdoor surfaces clean the fashion a pressure level washer does. It's a one-two dial for dirty and crud. First, the machine siphons cleaner out of an onboard tank or a nearby bucket and applies it with a gentle spray. Then it blasts the surface make clean with a high-force per unit area water jet that provides tremendous cleaning and rinsing power. In no time, clay, pollen, mildew, bug nests, spider webs, and bird debris are wiped right off. We tested more than a dozen machines to find out which are the kings of clean.
The All-time Pressure Washers of 2022
Best Electric
Greenworks Pro GPW2700 Pressure level WasherGreenworks
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Best Overall
Simpson MegaShot MSH3125 Pressure WasherSimpson
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Nearly Powerful Electrical
Ryobi RY142300 Pressure WasherRyobi
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Best Value
Sunday Joe SPX 3000 Xtream Force per unit area WasherSunday Joe
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Most Powerful Gas
Generac 8874 Force per unit area WasherGenerac
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How a Pressure Washer Works
H2o enters the force per unit area washer via a garden hose (a) and moves through a pump, which consists of a series of two or three plungers (b) arranged in a line or a circle. The plungers are powered by an output shaft on the engine or from a motor. Each plunger boosts the water pressure sequentially, ane feeding higher pressure level water to the plunger next in line. The last pulse of loftier-pressure h2o exits the pump. The h2o moves through a component called the unloader (c). This component unloads water if it gets too hot because the gun's trigger is off. Adjacent, the water travels downwards the hose to the gun (d). When you pull the gun's trigger, yous send a series of high-force per unit area pulses of water out the nozzle.
"Information technology'south important to empathize that the pump produces cleaning and rinsing efficiencies with loftier-velocity water pulsations," says Vince Morabit, a mechanical engineer who'due south designed and developed outdoor power equipment from pumps to chainsaws since the early 1960s. "Retrieve of it this manner: The kinetic energy in that pulse of h2o is similar a chisel beingness struck repeatedly by a hammer."
And since residential pressure washers too dispense cleaner, either out of a built-in tank (e) or by siphoning it out of a bucket, they clean via mechanical and chemical means. You use the cleaner and so rinse the surface. The cycle is ever the same: make clean, rinse, repeat.
"The cleaning agent you lot use is as important as the pressure washer itself," says Morabit. By selecting the right ane, you rely less on the force per unit area washer'due south force and more on the gentle removal of grime by the chemical action of the cleaner.
Analogy by Charlie Layton
Selecting Gas or Electric
The pump that provides the high-velocity jet of h2o out of a force per unit area washer may be driven by a gas engine or an electric motor. One is not necessarily better than the other, only which y'all buy will depend on your cleaning needs, budget, and how yous feel nigh maintaining the equipment you own.
Electric: These are best suited for cursory cleaning sessions, running from 15 to xxx minutes. They take enough power for general washing of outdoor surfaces. They piece of work well on woods and synthetic decks that demand only gentle cleaning, all types of outdoor furniture, single-flooring ranch houses, all types of exterior siding, and will clean the undercarriage of a pickup truck. They're not well suited to heavy-duty cleaning or long sessions in the elevation of the summer. Their motor, string, and basis-mistake circuit interrupter (GFCI) can go extremely hot. These are much quieter than gas-engine pressure washers, and they need hardly any maintenance. Every bit a bonus, they're piece of cake to store indoors during the winter.
Gas: These are best suited to heavy-duty cleaning. The power afforded past a gas engine can drive a large and powerful pump, enabling these machines to shoot h2o to higher surfaces, make clean heavier deposits of mold and dirt, and even slice thick deposits of mud from equipment such as farm machinery, trucks, and off-road vehicles. A gas engine is much louder than an electric motor, plus requires maintenance in the class of oil changes, replacement air filters, and a yearly change of the spark plug. Not to mention you have to be careful about fuel deposition. Today'due south alcohol-containing gasoline speedily degrades and tin harm fuel-organization parts similar carburetors and gas lines. Also, these are best stored over the wintertime in the garage or an outbuilding.
Photo: Trevor Raab
A Word About Condom
All the machines nosotros tested were safe to utilise, and we encountered nothing in them that caused usa any concern. Yet, pressure washers by their nature demand careful and deliberate handling, both for your sake and that of whatever yous're cleaning.
Both electric and gas models can damage surfaces. Of the two, the chance is higher with gas-engine machines attributable to the fact that they're by and large more powerful. At that place are some key things you demand to know to make clean safely and effectively.
Use a greenish or a white nozzle for virtually jobs; their broad spray angle is less probable to damage surfaces. Reserve crimson and yellow nozzles only for the toughest cleaning. Their narrow spray angle provides more cutting action only is more than likely to impairment a surface.
Avoid electricals. Don't wash outdoor light fixtures, outlet receptacles covers, transformer boxes, doorbells, cameras, or backup generator cabinets. These objects are both hands damaged by high pressure water. Also, pressure washing them can, in the worst case, transport h2o inside their electrical box, leading to a corrosion-induced electrical failure.
Watch your distance, and go on moving. The longer you keep the pressure washer's stream focused in one place, and the closer it is to the surface, the more probable you are to cause harm.
Avoid or go along with caution around delicate surfaces such a shade sails, insulated-glass windows, and outdoor furnishings congenital from soft materials similar cedar or redwood.
How We Test
Testing pressure washers is the proverbial dirty job. We wash concrete and brick pavements, vinyl and cement lath siding, aluminum trim and gutters, faux rock, vertical brick, and wood trim. Vinyl fences and outdoor furniture, too. Nosotros fifty-fifty very carefully washed some cars (using the white nozzle). One of the toughest tests was diggings make clean 3 large commercial trash cans with bottoms awash in a nauseating soup of summer stink. They looked and smelled like new cans when we were done with them. Aside from cleaning power, we expect at ease of utilize. Would the washer tip over if you tugged on its hose? Just how piece of cake is it to get the matter up a set up of ramps and into the back of a pickup truck? Was the hose piece of cake to tighten on to the pump plumbing fixtures? And simply how stiff is the hose that takes the water from the pump to the gun? Read on for our evaluations.
Best Electric
Greenworks Pro GPW2700 Force per unit area Washer
Primal SPECS AND FEATURES
Motor: xiv amps
Weight: 47.4 lb
Cleaning power: 2,700 psi
Max flow: 2.three gpm
The GPW2700 sailed to an easy victory among the electric pressure washers, non surprising given that this is an expensive and well-made piece of equipment. Its loftier force per unit area and volume output enable faster and more thorough cleaning. And those come up courtesy of the constant-run motor, which is ever turning, not just when you pull the spray wand trigger. This improves trigger response and reduces priming, since the pump is held under constant pressure level. Likewise, the auto has a pressure level and flow sensor so that the pump output adjusts to suit the nozzle you insert in the spray wand. All of this adds upwardly to better launder performance.
Although the washer stands for storage or when y'all need to wheel it for transport, it operates horizontally. Thus, it can't tip over. And pivoting hooks ease admission to and wrapping of the 35-foot cord. Our complaint: The hose outlets (both for the spray wand and the garden hose hookup) are close to each other, reducing access to them.
All-time Overall
Simpson MegaShot MSH3125 Pressure Washer
KEY SPECS AND FEATURES
Engine: 187 cc
Weight: 61.2 lb
Cleaning power: 3,200 psi
Max flow: 2.v gpm
If ever there was an aptly named piece of outdoor ability equipment, the MegaShot is it. For the money, you go a large Honda engine with massive air cooling fins on its head (it's i of the all-time engines in the business organization, by the fashion) and an equally hefty pump, complete with anodized hose fittings. And the combined activeness of that engine and pump produce a lot of dirt-blasting adequacy. No, this isn't a commercial power washer—you lot'd need to spend some other $1,000 to get there. Simply information technology comes about as close as yous're going to get at this toll level. Nosotros used it to blast clean concrete (including removing masonry stain), dirty vinyl siding and trim, mildewed wood, outdoor furniture that could only be described as grotesque, and equally nasty vinyl fencing. While nosotros were at it, nosotros blasted anything else in the vicinity that looked even remotely muddy.
Our verdict: This is a productive, no-nonsense car complete with a pull rod choke and a large cerise on/off switch. But, hey, pull that choke, yank the recoil starter, and that large Honda roars to life in seconds. Demerits? Its hose appears to be very durable, but male child is that affair potent. Information technology volition probable take a lot of use before it softens upwards a chip.
Nearly Powerful Electric
Ryobi RY142300 Pressure Washer
Central SPECS AND FEATURES
Motor: 13 amps
Weight: 48.8 lb
Cleaning ability: 2,300 psi
Max flow: 1.2 gpm
The RY142300 is a journeyman machine, one that delivers consistent soaping and washing functioning. It'south stronger than the Karcher K5 , the Worx, and Sun Joe and about equal to the Craftsman (the other electric pressure washers below). It'south much heavier than the Craftsman, though most of that weight difference is owing to its physically larger motor. Nosotros suspect that the Ryobi is the more durable of the ii machines, again owing to that big bruiser of a motor. Our only complaint with this otherwise fine pressure level washer is its spray wand mount on the handle. All it takes is one good bump to knock the wand off. It'due south very irritating.
Best Value
Sun Joe SPX 3000 Xtream Pressure Washer
Fundamental SPECS AND FEATURES
Motor: 13 amps
Weight: 26.ii lb
Cleaning ability: i,700 psi
Max flow: 1.2 gpm
Light-duty washing doesn't get much more inexpensive or portable than this meaty machine. For your money, y'all go a foaming soap dispenser and 2 cleaning brushes–one full general and the other designed to clean automotive wheels. Y'all also get a full prepare of nozzles (four). The machine's ergonomics are very good; the hose outlets, the on/off switch, and the carrying handle are well shaped and located to make this trivial machine easy to utilize. But it tips over easily on grass or other uneven surfaces due its small wheels and vertical configuration. It's best confined to working on pavement.
Nosotros worked the SPX 3000 very hard (harder than a homeowner probably would) and establish its cord and GFCI were quite warm when we were done. There'southward only and so much these small machines tin can withstand when you run them relentlessly on a summertime mean solar day, with temperatures hovering between 80 and 90 degrees.
Virtually Powerful Gas
Generac 8874 Pressure Washer
KEY SPECS AND FEATURES
Engine: 196 cc
Weight: 60.viii lb
Cleaning power: two,900 psi
Max flow: ii.four gpm
This Generac is classified equally a residential pressure washer. But it's a different category of machine, closer to the commercial finish of the spectrum. Pick up the spray wand on this thing, and that becomes clear very quickly. The big engine and equally big horizontal-shaft pump have more than than enough oomph to tackle tough cleaning jobs. We also liked the thermal relief valve that discharges h2o from the pump subsequently iii to five minutes of the spray wand not being used. By helping the pump run cooler, y'all extend its life.
In terms of power, consider this sit-in: We blasted make clean a portico by property the spray wand at virtually 45 degrees and, as we walked forward, the combined blast or air and water simultaneously cleaned the brick surface and blasted out loose droppings similar sand and leaves. Given that level of functioning, nosotros think the 8874 is a lot of motorcar for the money. Non everybody needs that much cleaning power, but it's good to know that it's in that location if you lot need information technology. Its but demerit was typical of pressure washers, and that is the poorly designed holder for hanging the spray wand.
Lightweight
Craftsman CMEPW2100 Pressure Washer
KEY SPECS AND FEATURES
Motor: thirteen amps
Weight: 29.4 lb
Cleaning power: 2,100 psi
Max flow: 1.two gpm
This is a low-cal, easy-to-handle automobile with adequate power for mid-duty jobs. Nosotros particularly appreciated ii features: the large, easy-admission detergent tank right on tiptop of the car, and the whopper of a power cord, 35 feet long. That's about 10 feet more than on the average electric pressure level washer, virtually eliminating the demand for an extension cord.
Of all the nozzles we tried on it, we had the all-time results with the turbo (rotating nail). It proved particularly practiced at cleaning physical. A final design detail that we actually like is its slide-on spray wand mountain. The gun can't be knocked off, like it can with other machines.
Easiest to Use
Karcher K5 Premium Full Command Plus Pressure Washer
Central SPECS AND FEATURES
Motor: 12.4 amps
Weight: 35.iv lb
Cleaning power: 2,100 psi
Max flow: 1.iv gpm
At first, the K5 seemed to be too small-scale and light to be effective. But, every bit with the Worx above, nosotros were pleasantly surprised. Information technology may be light duty, but information technology'due south certainly spunky. We came to appreciate its combination of thoughtful industrial design and output. Unlike other washers, its spray wand hose and garden hose both hook up past means of pop fittings (supplied with the machine). Besides, there are no nozzles to attach, just rotate the tip of the spray wand and fine tune the power, if necessary, using the digital control at the base of the gun. Frankly, though, we found it unnecessary. We dialed the wand's tip to conform the output and that was that.
The just limitation we found with the auto is that it'due south not suited to operate on the lawn; it easily tips over on such a surface. Wheel it around on pavement, a patio, or a deck, nonetheless, and you'll be fine.
Biggest Detergent Tank
Karcher G3000X Pressure Washer
KEY SPECS AND FEATURES
Engine: 196 cc
Weight: 77.2 lb
Cleaning power: 3,000 psi
Max flow: 2.four gpm
The G3000X is a bit old school in its design (notation the carriage bolts) and lacks the finesse of the Generac. But it has outstanding cleaning ability. lt'southward some other car closer to the commercial end of the spectrum because of its big engine, horizontal-shaft pump with large brass hose fittings, and a thermal relief valve that helps the pump run libation. We too liked its fold-frontwards handle that reduces its storage space in the garage or shed.
Nigh Stable
Worx WG604 Pressure Washer
Fundamental SPECS AND FEATURES
Motor: xiii amps
Weight: 29. 4 lb
Cleaning ability: 1,600 psi
Max flow: 1.iii gpm
Here's what we like about this Worx: It's small, light, rolls hands, and is reasonably resistant to tipping. Its hose reel works well. As to its cleaning ability, it punches higher up its weight class, moving information technology surprisingly close to the mid-duty end of the spectrum despite its depression psi and flow. Given those modest numbers, we were surprised at how productive it is. We plugged the turbo nozzle in and cleaned 30 feet of sidewalk in no fourth dimension, blasted off the front stoop, cleaned out some baggy cobwebs that formed around the front door and its overhang, reeled the hose back, unplugged the affair, and chosen it a twenty-four hours.
One last word: Nosotros like the dial on its detergent cap that lets yous select how much or little cleaner yous want to employ. The quarter cap itself is a bit fussy and needs some refining, but the idea is great.
Roy BerendsohnSenior Home EditorRoy Berendsohn has worked for more 25 years at Pop Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electric, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw utilise, and outdoor power equipment.
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